Congolese Rumba: Surviving the Pop Apocalypse

All over the world, the music business as we know it is crumbling. But in the Democratic Republic of Congo, musicians have found a new (and very old) method of survival. Through a system of shout-outs called libanga, Congolese pop musicians call on rich people to sponsor their music. Singers use the metaphoric language of love to discuss power, politics and money in one of the world’s poorest countries. Produced and hosted by Morgan Greenstreet in conversation with John Nimis, linguist and scholar of Congolese popular music. [Distributed 9/27/2016]